St. Paschal Baylon /San Pasqual (1540-1592)
May 17
St. Paschal is a patron saint of cooks and the kitchen due to his diligence as a cook for the community. And yet, Pacshal claimed to know nothing about the kitchen, thus giving rise to a legend of angelic help. Tomie DePaola wrote a delightful book about him entitled "Pascual and the Kitchen Angels." The book is exquisitely illustrated in DePaola's wonderfully charming style. Paschal is often depicted wearing an apron and holding a wooden spoon.
Paschal’s Spanish parents were poor but pious. Between the ages of seven and 24, he worked as a shepherd and began a life of mortification. He was able to pray on the job and was especially attentive for when the church bell rang at the Elevation during Mass.
In 1564 Paschal joined the Friars
Minor and gave himself wholeheartedly to a life of penance. Though he was urged
to study for the priesthood, he chose to be a brother. Instead of preaching, this meant he would spend his time doing more menial tasks around the monastery. At various times he
served as porter, cook, gardener, and official beggar. He especially enjoyed feeding the poor.
Paschal was very careful to observe
the vow of poverty. He would never waste any food or anything given for the use
of the friars. When he was porter and took care of the poor coming to the door,
he developed a reputation for great generosity. The friars sometimes tried to
moderate his liberality!
Saint Paschal said: “Meditate well on this: Seek God above all things. It is right for you to seek God before and above everything else, because the majesty of God wishes you to receive what you ask for. This will also make you more ready to serve God and will enable you to love God more perfectly.”
Paschal spent his spare moments praying before the Blessed Sacrament. In time many people sought his wise counsel. Many people flocked to his tomb immediately after his burial; miracles were reported promptly.
In 1690 Paschal was canonized and in 1897 named patron of Eucharistic congresses and societies. In Paschal’s lifetime the Spanish Empire in the New World was at the height of its power, though France and England were soon to reduce its influence. The 16th century has been called the Golden Age of the Church in Spain, for it gave birth to many prominent saints like Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Franciscans Peter Alcantara (October 22) & Francis Solano (July 14).
St. Felix of Cantalice (1515-1587)
May 18
In 1712 Felix was the first Capuchin ever canonized! In fact, when he was born, the Capuchins didn’t yet exist as a distinct group within the Franciscans. Born of humble but God-fearing parents in the Rieti Valley of Italy, Felix worked as a farm laborer and a shepherd until he was 28. 8He developed the habit of praying while he worked. In 1543 he joined the Capuchins. When the guardian explained the hardships of the way of life, Felix answered: “Father, the austerity of your Order does not frighten me. I hope, with God’s help, to overcome all the difficulties which will arise from my own weakness.”
Three years later Felix was assigned
to the friary in Rome as its official beggar. Because he was a model of
simplicity and charity, he edified many people during the 42 years he performed
that service for his confreres. In Rome, Brother Felix became a familiar sight, wandering barefoot through the streets, with a sack slung over his shoulders, knocking on doors to seek donations.
As he made his rounds, he worked to convert hardened sinners and to feed the poor as did his good friend, St. Philip Neri, who founded the Oratory, a community of priests serving the poor of Rome. When Felix wasn’t talking on his rounds, he was praying the rosary. The people named him “Brother Deo Gratias” (Thanks be to God) because he was always using that blessing.
Felix died in Rome in 1587 on his 72nd birthday and was buried in the crypt of the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini.
“Let us refer all good to the Lord God, most high and supreme, and let us recognize everything good as belonging to God, and thank God for everything from whom all blessings come. May the most high and sovereign Lord have and be given all praise and blessing, all thanks and glory. To him who alone is good belongs whatever is good. When we see or hear any evil, when we hear a blasphemy uttered, let us bless, honor, and praise the Lord who is blessed forever. Amen.” (St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Chp. 7)
Felix is usually represented in art as holding in his arms the Infant Jesus, because of a vision he is said to have had when the Virgin appeared to him and placed Jesus in his arms. Pope John Paul II observed that Felix is "shown bearing the Infant Jesus in his arms because in bearing the burdens of the needy he had carried in his arms the poor Christ himself."
What is
a Franciscan Friar?
The
Franciscans are referred to as “friars,” from the Latin frater,
meaning “brother.” Franciscans are essentially an order of brothers striving to
live the Gospel with the same simplicity and fervor as their founder, St.
Francis of Assisi. After growing up in a wealthy family and then experiencing a
powerful conversion at the age of 25, Francis donned the clothes of a penitent
and began to live a very poor lifestyle, dedicating himself to prayer and
service of the poor. Before long, inspired by his fervent lifestyle, men began
to join Francis and to imitate his way of life. This gave rise to the birth of
the Franciscan Order in 1223.
What is
a Capuchin Franciscan?
In the
16th century, a group of Franciscans were inspired to live the Franciscan
lifestyle in a more radical manner, returning to the original emphasis on
prayer and poverty. These men broke away from the Franciscans and began a
reform movement which stressed the priority of contemplative prayer and a more
rigorous austerity. Wearing habits with large hoods, they soon garnered the
name cappucio, the Italian word for “hood.” The Capuchins received
approval of their way of life and were recognized as an official, independent
branch of the Franciscans in 1525 in the papal bull Religionis Zellus.
The
Capuchins Today
Today
there are seven regional jurisdictions of Capuchins in the United States.
Usually found in the poorer sections of towns and cities, the Capuchins have a
special charism for working among the common people and taking those
assignments which others refuse. Capuchins can be found working in soup
kitchens and homeless shelters, serving as hospital chaplains or prison
ministers, confessors, and spiritual directors. Capuchins can also be found in
some of the city’s poorest parishes.
The Capuchins build their life and ministry on two essential foundations:
prayer and fraternity. The priority of prayer and the contemplative life is at
the heart of the Capuchin charism. Personal and community prayer nourishes the
brothers’ relationship with God and one another and enables them to give fully
of themselves to everyone they meet. The Capuchin tradition has placed great
emphasis on Eucharistic devotion and veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Along with prayer, fraternity is of great importance to the Capuchin charism. A
Capuchin is first and foremost a brother among brothers. This fraternal life is
founded upon the Gospel in which, after washing the disciples’ feet, the Lord
exhorts his followers to do the same for others. This witness to fraternity is
crucial in an increasingly isolated and alienated world.
These three definitions were retrieved
from https://www.capuchins.org/who-are-we
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